Russian Duma warns Georgia of conflict developing into war
www.chinaview.cn 2004-08-06 10:02:35
MOSCOW, Aug. 5 (Xinhuanet) -- Russia's State Duma, lower house of parliament, issued a statement Thursday, warning that the conflict in Georgia may develop into a large-scale military confrontation involving Russia.
The statement accused the Georgian government, which resorted to force in order to solve national conflicts, of being short-sighted.
The statement said that Georgian troops' firing at a Russian delegation in Georgia's breakaway province of South Ossetia is an deliberate act.
Also, it pointed out that Georgia's warning to fire at ships "illegally" entering the waters of its breakaway region Abkhazia aims first at Russians.
On the same day, Valery Loshchinin, Russian First Deputy Foreign Minister, said at a press conference that Russia has the responsibility to protect its citizens, no matter where they are. Loshchinin also called for peaceful solution to the conflict in Georgia.
Also on Thursday, Georgia's Parliament Speaker Nino Burdzhanadze, a close ally of Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili, refuted Russian Duma's statement, claiming that Russia has continued to issue passports to citizens in Georgia's South Ossetia and Abkhazia, an open defiance of the integrity of Georgia's territory.
Earlier on Wednesday, a convoy carrying a Russian delegation came under fire, allegedly from Georgian troops in a conflict zonebetween South Ossetia and Georgia.
Later in the day, Russia protested against the firing and urgedthe Georgian authorities to probe into the incident.
The Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement, warning that "it is necessary to stop those who are trying to drag Georgia into new confrontation fraught with far-reaching consequences."
Also on Wednesday, the Russian authorities warned Georgia to take care not to harm Russians by firing on ships "illegally" entering the waters of its breakaway region Abkhazia.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement, "Russia is warning Tbilisi that all attempts to inflict harm on Russia citizens, or, worse still, to encroach on their lives, will be duly rebuffed."
The statement came a day after Saakashvili reaffirmed Tuesday that Georgia would "open fire at and sink all ships that appear near the coast of Abkhazia," cautioning Russian tourists not to take boat trips to Novy Afon and Sukhumi, two Abkhazian cities.
Saakashvili said, "If you want to come to Sukhumi by sea, you must be well aware that our warships a few days ago opened fire ata ship that had violated our sea border."
Last Friday, the Georgian coast guard opened fire at a Turkish ship that entered the Black Sea waters of Abkhazia.
Abkhazia, a Black Sea province known for its beach resorts, wonde facto independence from Georgia after a 1992-1993 war.
Saakashvili, who took office in January this year, has vowed toreunify the country by bringing three breakaway regions -- Adzharia, South Ossetia and Abkhazia, back under control.
Adzharia was taken under the control of the Georgian governmentafter its leader was forced to resign and flee to Moscow in May. Enditem
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